It was a game that didn’t seem to make much sense, but Auburn persevered and knocked Belvidere North out of the NIC-10 girls basketball title chase with a 53-51 overtime victory Friday night.

“We started off hard, but in the end it turned out the way we wanted it to,” Auburn guard Brianna Davis said. “We had faith in ourselves.”

North (14-4, 8-2) fell two games behind Hononegah and one behind Harlem. The Blue Thunder made 9 of their first 15 shots, but couldn’t pull away because Auburn had a 17-4 edge in offensive rebounds the first half.

That kept Auburn within 23-22 at the half. But it couldn’t get ahead because they couldn’t shoot. Auburn was in a 1-for-26 stretch before Natasha Adames (17 points) tied it at 24 with a long jumper.

“We weren’t making our shots, but we knew if we penetrated, we’d get to the line,” Adames said.

Those free throws were the difference. Auburn was 21 of 28 from the line.

Sakayla Davenport (13 points) and Davis combined for five 3-pointers that build Auburn’s lead to as much as 41-34. “You think about the next one that’s going in; you don’t think about how many you missed,” Davenport said. But while the Knights made eight 3-pointers, they shot only 2-for-29 from inside the arc in regulation.

Courtney Rosendahl, one of three North starters in game-long foul trouble, made two late baskets to force overtime. Kirsten Larson (16 points) and Anna Martensen were also in foul trouble. And Jessica Cerniglia and Shelby Steele are out with season-ending injuries.

Adames scored on a putback for the first points of overtime and Davis also scored on a putback to put Auburn (11-9, 6-5) ahead for good at 49-48. Those were the only two baskets Auburn made all night on its 25 offensive rebounds.